Off the Record

A With Me in Seattle Mafia Novel

By: Kristen Proby

Narrated by: Jason Clarke, Erin Mallon

Length: 5 hrs

Publisher's Summary

From New York Times best-selling author Kristen Proby comes the thrilling conclusion to her With Me in Seattle Mafia series....

Rafe “Rocco” Martinelli was never one for the family business. Alas, being born into a crime syndicate means doing the family’s bidding and making sure you’re connected - and, yes, breaking a few kneecaps. Rafe would love nothing more than to hang up his enforcer apron and live a quiet life, but as more and more higher-ups in rival clans turn up dead, Rafe realizes he doesn’t have a choice. Especially not when the captivating and gorgeous bratva princess needs his help. 

Dr. Annika Tarenkov learned early on that her life belongs to her family. She’s a pawn in the long game, a bargaining chip for power and prestige. She gave up the only person in her life she thought she could be happy with, all for the greater good of the family. Now, a newly made widow and desperately seeking answers, she’s forced to confront her past as it converges with her present. But all it does is make her wonder about her future and how she can make Rafe hers again. While being with him is like wrangling a toddler at times, he still makes her heart race and her breath catch. And she wouldn’t feel safer with anyone else. 

With the chips seemingly stacked against them, they must work to uncover the perpetrators of the nefarious plot that’s been brewing for some time - before it’s too late. 

©2021 Kristen Proby (P)2021 Kristen Proby

Why must this series end? Definitely my favorite.

I've definitely enjoyed listening to this series, the narrators were fantastic with bringing Annike and Rafe's story to life. I've loved how quickly the story goes and being immersed the entire time. With their long history they share and having no choice, but to be apart, I couldn't wait for them to get their happy ever after.

Annika is essentially torn away from the love of her life, but her and Rafe's family have been enemies. And during their time apart, Annika was thrown into a marriage with a man who flipped the switch as soon as they said 'I Dos' ... and not in the best way. Now it's years later and Annika and Rafe may have their second chance.

The chemistry is undeniable between them and I was loving every single of their moments together.

Out of the three, we get up and personal with the mafia side of it. That's why I hope Proby will write more mafia and keep it going. Hands down my favorite of the series.

Quick Mafia Romance Series

This is an ARC review. All opinions are solely my own.

Off the Record is book 3 of Kristen Proby's With Me In Seattle Mafia series. This is a very fast paced series that has to be read in order or you will not understand all the players in the story. This book is narrated by Jason Clarke and Erin Mallon. The way these narrators embody the characters makes the listener feel like the characters were written for their voices.

Rafe and Annika have tried to stay as in the shadows of their family businesses as possible. But when the business comes knocking on their front doors they are forced to confront their pasts. These two have been fighting their feelings even longer. Now that each are unemcumbered they can explore what their hearts have always known.

Kristen Proby is the master of intertwined family and friend romances. I love the way she blends each book seamlessly together. I will always come for a Kristen Proby series.

Gave 3, worth 2

I gave it 3 because I was surprised with who the villain turned out to be but it was a boring story. Book 1 was great, loved it! Book 2 was good but not worth another listen. This book was just ok. Only read it to finish the trilogy but this story should have been combined with book 2. Worth a credit? No, not to me. I wish I just read spoilers and reread book 1🤷‍♀️

Second Chance Romance

Annika and Rafe were in love in college even though they were from rival mafia families. But they were torn apart by her family. Years later they are brought together by a dangerous situation involving their families. Rafe is there to protect Annika and tries not to get involved but they have such a connection that they can't resist each other. This final book in the series answers a lot of questions. We see some people from Kristen's other books which just adds to the layers in this book. I usually don't read mafia style books but I'm glad I listened to Kristen's since they are so good. Jason Clarke and Erin Mallon are fantastic narrators as usual.

Angsty Yearny Second Chance Mafia Romance

I have been dying for Annika and Rafe's story and it was everything I had hoped for. From the first book in the mafia series you could tell there was some serious chemistry and heat simmering between these two. This story did not disappoint and provided all the smolder, angst and yearning I could handle, without putting their coupling off too long. They are honest with the other about what they are feeling and their communication throughout the story made my heart happy. The drama and mystery in this book is fast paced and there was a lot going on, some of which I found resolved a little too quickly, but it kept me on the edge of my seat quickly turning pages.

I am so happy Annika finally got her HEA! I can't wait to see if they drop into future Seattle stories!

The audiobook was absolute perfection. Jason Clarke was the perfect protective Rafe and Erin Mallon brought a lot of power and ferocity to Anika, bringing her strong independent character to life.

I received an ARC of this book and voluntarily give my review.

Swoon Worthy

I’ve been looking forward to this book since we were first introduced to the Martinelli family, and it did not disappoint! Given a second chance at love, Rafe and Annika went through it to be able to live in peace again, together. I love it when a man doesn’t give up in order to get his girl. It makes my heart flutter. ❤️

Kristen masterfully wove a complex story line throughout this whole series while still maintaining the swoon worthy courtship that we’ve come to expect from her within each individual couple’s love story. I loved this series and I hope it’s not the last we see of these families. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

He was always her Rafe

Annika and Rafe had a story book love affair until their families came between them. Annika’s life has been turned upside down and Rafe will stay by her side to keep her side. Rekindling their romance was inevitable. Their chemistry threatened to consume them as their families came closer together. They were absolutely brilliant together and when Annika’s past comes back to haunt her Rafe is desperate to find answers. I absolutely adore anything Kristen Proby writes and the narrators are brilliant!

4.5 ‘Meant to be’ Stars

OMG!!! Talk about ending with a bang! What a mafiatastic wrap up! Rafe and Annika were THE couple I've been dying to know more about, and I could not be happier with this conclusion. Sexy, action packed, enrapturing plot, and some main characters to die for, all masterfully laid out with the most perfect of hint of dark romance. Ms. Proby knows how to give as the most believable of mafia tales!!!<3 <3 <3 <3 <3

The best mafia! Casting was perfect

I can not say this enough....
Casting for the narrators could not have been more perfect!!! Jason Clarke as Rocco?!? I am in love!!!
Erin Mallon was exactly what I heard Annika as when I read this.
I’m sitting here still trying to process this.
I am obsessed with Kristen Proby’s mafia!!!!

These Martinelli’s are something truly special.

The suspense in these books has been amazing. I’m usually pretty fast at picking out the “who done it...” but Proby had me thrown! I literally gasped.

My suggestion - read all of the Mafia in order! You get the full picture. Absolutely binge worthy!!!

Fast Paced, Suspenseful

Off The Record is the third and last book in Kristen Proby’s With Me In Seattle Mafia Family series and, for me, was the best of the trilogy. Annika and Rafe met in college, fell in love but were separated because they come from two different crime families. Annika marries someone else but has never gotten over or stopped loving Rafe. Her husband was a cruel man, hurting her and forcing her to engage in questionable activities and making her think that Rafe would never want her after the things that she’s done. Annika’s husband is killed and as she is trying to piece her life back together, Rafe lets her know that he still has the same feelings for her just as he did all those years ago. When photos show up of Annika in compromising positions, the families must pool their resources to find out who is behind the blackmail.

Along with the couples from the first two books and with both the families working together, Annika and Rafe embark on a cross country search to find the blackmailer and uncover an intricate and deep plot against all the most prominent crime families in the country that goes beyond just the blackmail towards Annika.

The book is fast-paced, suspenseful, throws in a couple of surprise twists and has the signature potent chemistry between the main characters that I have come to expect from Kristen Proby. She writes strong females, caring alpha heroes and always great friendships between all the characters. Hands down the best of the series.

The narration from Erin Mallon and Jason Clarke was spot on and really enhanced the story.

Love this book

This book is the perfect end to the trilogy loved it all, they are just so good together.

Excellent ending to a great series

What a finale to the series! The narrators Jason Clarke and Erin Mallon just draw you into the book right from the beginning and hold you there until the end. This book is an excellent way to end the series. Rafe “Rocco” has loved Annika since they were in college. Annika loves Rafe but she couldn’t have him then..... but now the situation has changed and their families aren’t rivals anymore. This book has an excellent story, it’s fast paced with plenty of love and enough violence to be interesting but not off putting. All in all I loved this story and this series. I’m hoping that Kristen writes more books like this.

Loved it

I have loved the whole mafia series and this book was no different. It tied up all the loose threads with a ending I did not see coming excellent series and an excellent book.